Cyberpunk: From Dogville to Legend

Chapter 462 Haywood's Choice (Part 2) [7.3K]

"Cristiano, weren't you still drinking milk when I was playing with guns? Huh? Camilla brought you up here for this—"

"Let outsiders point guns at us Heywood people?"

Jack Wells saw that his mother was surrounded by gun barrels, with the blonde woman pointing two guns at each of Valentino's officers. Jack realized that if these guys kept acting recklessly, things would get really bad...

He wasn't worried about Mrs. Wells, nor was he worried that Valentino's group would be caught off guard or have their problems solved.

On the contrary, he was worried that these reckless gang members might be slaughtered by Rin, who was not far behind him and had not shown any emotion...

Even if he revealed his identity now, it would only cause a burst of laughter from the people around him, and that would have no effect. Who would believe that the murderer who killed Sanlang, the Night City legend who blocked the roaming AI in the online world, and who could escape unscathed from the company's siege in the Badlands, was standing right here?
certainly…

Jack didn't want his neighbors to get hurt either.

But Mrs. Wells, looking at those dark gun barrels, didn't seem like a woman at all; she looked more like a high-ranking gang member who had been pointed at with guns many times. In some moments, the old woman even resembled Wakako in temperament.

It seems that Jack's mother was no ordinary person in her youth...

Lin Yue knew that there was a high chance that a fight would not break out. He was just curious about how Mrs. Wells would respond. Even if he handed over himself and V, he wouldn't say anything.

“Out-of-towners, Cristiano…Valentino gang. I’ve never seen so many unfamiliar faces before.” Mrs. Wells gestured to the neighbors around her not to point out their guns to avoid accidental discharge, then kicked over a corpse lying on the ground with her toe—

The marks of the Tiger Claw Gang's special modifications on this guy's face are extremely obvious.

"Camilla isn't lucid, and you're an old man... so how long do you plan to keep those businesses that are turning around?"

Mrs. Wells continued, "Does Heywood really have to be investigated by the NCPD every day, with the Night City prosecutor coming to our door three times a day, for it to be considered prosperous, Cristiano?"

This is where clan relations are most complicated; even an upright official finds it difficult to settle family disputes… Therefore, Lin Yue had no intention of speaking from beginning to end.

The Valentino gang leaders were momentarily speechless.

Are you suggesting gangs should become more ethical? Should they be prohibited from doing anything legally forbidden? And should they be expected to do volunteer work for their neighbors?
What the hell is this joke...?

So he could only wear a speechless expression. Cristiano genuinely wondered if the old lady in front of him was experiencing memory loss due to old age.

"That's always been how we do business—"

Mrs. Wells shrugged, interrupting her younger colleague. "But that's a crime, isn't it? There are honest people in Heywood who work clean jobs. Didn't we come to Night City to earn a living and be normal people? Now we have this opportunity, we can run our own Heywood—"

"Is it right to risk losing your head and let your wife and kids live in constant fear at home?"

Heywood's officers clenched their teeth.

His eyes darted left and right, as if he was considering whether or not to break off all ties.

At this moment, Mrs. Wells' voice suddenly rose several octaves. Her calm eyes swept over the many people in the Valentino gang. Their relatives and friends were standing behind her, all family members now pointing guns and making a scene...

The young cadre muttered a curse under his breath: "Camilla is absolutely right."

He is now very grateful that Valentino has recruited such a large number of new people.

"normal?"

"Mrs. Wells, I respect you, but do you know what you're saying? How many people's livelihoods are you about to ruin?"

Cristiano hadn't even finished speaking.

Mrs. Wells cried out, “The children standing in the Valentino gang, your wives and husbands, and your parents all live in Haywood. Even if you were orphans from a young age, it was the neighbors who took care of you and raised you…”

"You come up here and shoot your own family members, letting thugs from other gangs into the Valentino gang, and then you all mess around with Camilla. Is it really worth it?"

"Are the company's supplies inferior to the 'white powder' you unloaded from the ship in Mexico? Or are you planning to rely on drugs to ensure you have enough to eat and drink every day? Don't your children go hungry?"

"How long has it been since you went home? While you were risking your lives to plunder the enemy, your children, your mother, and your wife were living in fear at home—don't you want to go home?!"

Many of the faces of the Valentino gang member Leigh Wood began to hesitate.

"this…"

Gangs make their living through criminal activities. It's just that people have a strange trait: when they commit evil deeds, they always deceive themselves with the reason that "doing this is definitely better than being managed by a company"—evil is evil, and they know it perfectly well in their hearts.

"The baby's father!"

A haggard-looking woman shouted at the top of her lungs.

Mrs. Wells didn't say anything more, and a man from the Valentino gang dejectedly put down his gun... He had been preparing to go back when Night City descended into chaos, but the gang had rules that important facilities belonging to rival forces in the city were targets that the higher-ups wanted.

Money, medicine, weapons...

There are also ownership rights for some important venues.

But when faced with a weakness, are these things really that important?
He walked forward amidst a multitude of gazes, some malicious, some hesitant, and some bewildered. The woman opposite him covered her mouth and waited quietly for her husband to return.

"Balk... are you looking for death? What are the consequences of leaving the gang without permission—"

"I'm going to your mother!"

Jack, who had exchanged a glance with Lin Yue, immediately spotted the cadre and smashed him with the butt of his rifle!
The cadre was completely unprepared for Jack's sudden attack. A flurry of activity ensued, and Lin Yue appeared behind the cadre, the black hand of the gorilla's arm pressed against the man's throat.

Cristiano, feeling a sharp pain in his face, instinctively grimaced and said, "Damn it! Calm down... calm down..."

The locals in the Valentino gang no longer hesitated. Apart from some orphans or those with no ties, and the newly recruited gang members, they were all fed up with this kind of life…

However, the effect was not very good; only a dozen or so locals came out, but the goal of demoralizing the people was achieved.

Mrs. Wells's methods did catch Lin Yuegao's eye, but the current situation remains unsolvable.

The cadre Lin Yue was holding suddenly struggled. "Don't believe this old woman who's in cahoots with the company. She and her son are planning to grovel before the company!"

Even when Lin Yue squeezed his throat slightly, the guy seemed to have been provoked into a ferocious state…

The Haywood men really are a bunch of fearless fools.

"Come on! Crush me, you son of a bitch—you really think the company provides you with food and water, builds you houses, and gives you those ridiculous security contracts for free? Think about it carefully!"

"As long as the company exists, the resistance will not stop... Mrs. Wells, just you wait!"

The expressions on the faces of the people of Haywood changed repeatedly, but they all reflected their inner turmoil. From their perspective, the chaotic city, the hunger, the company's intervention, and the ruthless gangs...

Life has never been so difficult.

All eyes turned to Mrs. Wells, who was able to offer some convincing opinions on the matter.

What exactly is the company after? This is the question that everyone is most concerned about.

Lin Yue sighed softly at that moment.

Heywood was Jack's home, so Emma and Suzuki naturally dealt with Heywood with the lowest possible return, practically investing their own money in it... but they never expected that something so seemingly too good to be true would still make them uneasy.

It's not that the people at Haywood need to be disciplined, or that they're only happy if the company extracts some profit from them.

In fact, the initial construction of Taipingzhou also encountered such resistance, which was actually a lack of trust.

Lin Yue felt like he was answering on behalf of Mrs. Wells. With such a beautiful port as Heywood, and the substantial assets left by the Night City corporation after their withdrawal from the Night City business world, supporting the people of Heywood wouldn't be a problem…

However, this statement can only be made by company personnel, since he is now just a mercenary.

"Mrs. Wells, could you please tell us? How exactly did the company negotiate with us?"

"Yes, everyone wants to know how the company makes money. The community in the east said that the company in Taipingzhou recruits soldiers and sells weapons. Is that true?"

"I knew the company had ulterior motives... How am I supposed to live like this?!"

Lin Yue's feelings were hard to describe.

Everything in this city is high-tech; even the toilets in clubs have holographic devices, and newspapers are holographic. However, the cost of living is extremely high, and even filling one's stomach or earning an income is incredibly difficult.

Night City is nothing but hell for ordinary people.

Either you're more wicked than others, or you'll be tormented by wicked people...

Heywood is spared from becoming like Pacific Island due to the parasitic relationship of mutual dependence between the Valentino gang and the neighborhood, but it's not much better. After all, the NCPD still considers it a priority area, and if things escalate, it's the people of Heywood who suffer.

If you don't speak now...

The atmosphere on the field was thus skewed.

Mrs. Wells gestured for everyone to be quiet. "We are currently accepting supplies from the company because Haywood can no longer rely on the Valentino gang for help; it would only make things worse for us—the company negotiated the same terms as Cristiano."

Mrs. Wells let out a deep breath.

In the end, the company's "conditions" were revealed...

“The company requires our men to work for them, our children to receive education and become part of the company, our women to provide employment opportunities, and we also have to get implants provided by them.”

Lin Yue's brows furrowed instantly.

Jack's eyes widened in surprise...

V's gaze immediately and instinctively fell on Lin Yue. Lin Yue simply shook his head slightly. If Emma or Suzuki had proposed such a condition, how could Mrs. Wells possibly have accepted it?
He only moved his head slightly.

He suddenly understood what Jack's mother meant...

"what?!"

"These conditions..."

"Mrs. Wells, the neighbors trust you so much, are you trying to cheat us? The implants from the company have left many of us disabled, have you forgotten that?"

"So you're going to sell our women into the club!"

"I don't want to... I'd rather starve to death."

Cristiano struggled violently, and Lin Yue was afraid of accidentally crushing the idiot to death. To avoid escalating the conflict, he had no choice but to loosen his grip a little...

Mrs. Wells ignored the surrounding chatter. "Accepting the conditions doesn't mean the Haywood people will necessarily comply. Right now, we need these supplies to ensure our livelihood, but we can break the agreement later."

"But the important thing is for the neighbors to survive."

Cristiano roared, "Do you think the company will let you off so easily? They're much more ruthless than we are..."

Mrs. Wells's eyes sharpened. "So outsiders shot one of our Haywood men, and these two mercenaries took care of a few thugs from other districts. Is there a problem? Camilla has completely forgotten what her brother said."

Sure enough, after Mrs. Wells's actions, the Valentino gang, which consisted mostly of "outsiders," could no longer maintain their standoff.

Because of the deaths of community residents, the group was showing signs of spiraling out of control, so Mrs. Wells stopped interfering.

"Good, very good..."

Cristiano's arm was being squeezed painfully by the seemingly weak guy behind him.

"let me go!"

Mrs. Wells spoke up: “Jack’s friend, we’re all family here… let him go, Cristiano isn’t unreasonable.”

Lin Yue released the officers in front of him, and the Valentino gang was pushed back by the angry neighbors. The number of neighbors far exceeded the number of gang members.

"If this continues, company personnel will be arriving..."

Cristiano glared fiercely at Jack and Rin's group, while his underlings clearly dared not continue to be ruthless.

"Mrs. Wells, you will be the greatest disgrace to the people of Haywood!"

"Wait!"

As they spoke, the two groups parted ways in the ruins. The Haywood men were not happy about the departure of their gang; instead, they whispered amongst themselves. Mrs. Wells glanced at Jack and then turned her gaze to her two sons' friends.

“This isn’t the place to talk, Jack… take your two friends home.”

"I need to talk to the neighbors about this..."

With a wink from Jack, the three of them slipped through the crowd of Haywood's neighbors and left...

Mrs. Wells looked somewhat somber as she watched her son with two strangers, seemingly deep in thought.

……
-
"Phew! That was close to disaster."

The Wild Wolf Bar is closed during the day. Jack threw himself onto the sofa and said, "You scared me to death, man. I almost thought you were going to wipe out all those guys."

V shrugged. "Almost."

Lin Yue was both amused and exasperated. If he really dealt with the Valentino gang today, the consequences would be unpredictable. This little commotion wouldn't escape the company's notice.

"You're overthinking it, Jack." Lin Yue stood up as Jack, who was also staring at him, stood up. Both of them had expressions of joy that they hadn't seen in a long time.

The two burly men hugged and patted each other on the shoulder.

"I never thought I'd see you again, buddy."

Jack sat down casually. "Damn! When Night City became like that, and V told me all this, I had only one thought—this is utter nonsense. I never imagined you'd pull off such a huge operation in the online world."

"A living legend of Night City, haha, sitting right in front of me now. I really want to take you to places like the Afterlife or Lizhi and recommend you to those idiots!"

V rubbed his temples.

When Jack is relaxed, he's like a boy who never grew up, only interested in participating in exciting activities.

"Oh! Sorry, sorry... I forgot there are company dogs chasing and biting you outside."

As Jack poured himself a drink, he said, "What I mean is, I'm available anytime if needed."

The two raised their glasses and drank them down in one gulp.

V laughed and said, "I really didn't realize, Jack, that you're such a good leader in repairing houses for the neighborhood."

Jack finished his drink with a satisfied smack, then looked at Rin, who had also downed hers in one gulp. "Things are really bad, sis. I'm sure Rin can see what a mess Haywood is in right now..."

"uh-huh."

Lin Yue rubbed his hands. "I thought Suzuki had at least solved a large part of the problem, but the relationship between the Valentino gang and you is too complicated and not so easy to handle."

Jack was also very worried.

"If you want me to believe in a company a few years ago, that's a fucking dream!"

"But everyone knows that gangs aren't exactly good people either. During the time when they were fighting with the Vortex Gang, countless people died. To put it bluntly, it was all about making dirty money."

“They didn’t have a choice before, but now they have a stable life, so of course the gangs are unhappy.”

Lin Yue nodded.

Gangs should not exist under rules and legal constraints, and their criminal nature remains unchanged regardless.

Lin Yue was just curious why Valentino was now filled with a large number of outsiders, and judging from the way those guys were, if Valentino hadn't been holding back a few local officials, they probably wouldn't have hesitated to open fire on the neighborhood.

“Let me tell you more about Jack. Sometimes it’s not a good thing for the company to get involved. I happen to be free in Night City for a while now—well, if you trust me.”

Jack spread his hands, giving him a "what the hell are you talking about, you bastard?" look.

“My buddy is eager for your help, but he took all these favorable conditions. My mom said those things to keep them in check... Suzuki didn’t say any of these things when he came to negotiate. He was only discussing the Haywood Port matter with my mom.”

Lin Yue listened carefully, when V, who was beside him, suddenly asked, "Can Mrs. Wells make this decision?"

Jack shook his head.

"No matter what, my mom is a kind-hearted person in the neighborhood... she doesn't want to get involved in these things."

"But you know that for the Haywood people to survive, only the conditions you offer can ensure they have enough to eat and stay dry. Suzuki's intention is to take the port back from the Valentino gang by force..."

Looking at Jack's troubled expression, Lin Yue roughly knew that Mrs. Wells had stopped the matter.

Once the company soldiers take action, the gang will definitely not be able to withstand it, and it's impossible to accurately predict how many people will die.

The main problem is that many Heywood families within the Valentino gang rely on the gang for their livelihood, which could actually alienate the locals in Heywood…

Lin Yue felt a deep headache.

He had clearly underestimated the intricate relationships involved in these matters, and now that he had volunteered to come here, there was no reason for him to back down.

V smiled slightly when he saw Lin Yue's intention to take on the task.

"No, seizing the port by force would leave too many loopholes... and other companies would get involved, causing chaos, and Dreamers would become the target of everyone's criticism."

"Mrs. Wells is right."

Jack was still scratching his head. "I'm really sorry, but my mom could only use the excuse that the company has ulterior motives to temporarily appease everyone. To be honest—"

V added, "Hmm, I wouldn't believe it either, but that's how Rin does things."

Jack asked with utmost seriousness, "What's the point, buddy?"

Jack wanted to be frank with himself, but Lin Yue simply picked up his glass, took a sip, and smacked his cigarette in silence.

Heywood looked at V as if seeking help.

There was silence for a long time.

Those who attempt to defy the fate of the world don't talk about things like dreams.

He simply said, "The people of Tuhywood are like the people of Pacific Islander; they have their own way of doing things. Just like you did a few big heists to help Mrs. Wells, no matter what... being a legend is not as important as spending time with Mom, is it?"

Jack was stunned.

"Hey!"

"That's absolutely true, buddy."

"Okay, okay, okay..."

Lin Yue was somewhat surprised, "You believe that already?"

Jack laughed and said, "From the first day I met you, I knew you would never cheat anyone. I have a good eye for people, and isn't Chica (V) just that kind of person?"

It has to be said that V has a real knack for telling corny jokes. "So you keep cursing Arasaka on the phone every day, and you even curse my former boss Saburo?"

Seeing the guy's embarrassed expression, Lin Yue couldn't help but smile knowingly.

But despite the laughter, Lin Yue still asked...

“This matter still needs to be handled according to the rules of the street. At least Heywood is much more complicated than Santo Domingo. There are NPCD, Night City officials, companies, gangs... and Heywood’s family relationships.”

"So you need to tell me what the situation is with your ex-girlfriend? V had several opportunities to kill that woman, but you said she was the current boss of the Valentino gang... so he didn't go all out for fear of causing trouble."

"Will we run into trouble if we casually attack those guys who aren't Haywood?"

Jack shook his head.

"No one in Heywood ever imagined the Valentino gang would turn out like this. A lot of people died in the last network problem, the Valentino gang expanded a lot, and the NCPD had an armory in Heywood—that place was looted, and people from other districts escaped over there."

"Camilla's older brother, my mentor died in prison. He was supposed to be released soon... Damn, I never thought things would turn out like this."

"If he were still alive, things would never have come to this."

"Camilla has hated the company for a long time, that's all ancient history... In short, her brother's imprisonment was also orchestrated by the company."

Lin Yue nodded.

Jack suddenly became dejected at this point, "I never imagined she would kill the neighbor..."

Lin Yue reached out and patted his buddy on the shoulder. That's how the misunderstanding started. You can only blame the world these days.

"Rin, the cybernetic devices on those thugs are definitely not of gang level."

V, a seasoned intelligence officer, discovered the problem.

Why does the Valentino gang control the port?

"The pharmaceutical business? Or..."

Jack shook his head. "The Valentino gang's cash cow, in the local slang, is that money grows in women's bosoms and medicine powder—you should know this is basic business. Camilla is willing to offend the neighbors to stop us from repairing the community, so it's probably not that simple."

"perhaps…"

Just as Jack was about to speak, the automatic doors of the Wild Wolf Bar opened.

Surprised that Mrs. Wells could resolve the issue so quickly, the group stood up one after another. The energetic old lady showed no sign of discomfort. "Sit down, children, don't be so reserved."

"Thanks to you all today, make this place feel like home."

Jack winked, while Mrs. Wells sat on the sofa. Lin Yue vaguely remembered the first time he came to the Wild Wolf Bar, when Mrs. Wells was not so polite.

"V?"

Unexpectedly, Mrs. Wells, who had just sat down, smiled and stared at the transformed V before saying this.

Lin Yue's jaw clenched subconsciously. V hadn't expected this seemingly calm woman to have such a sharp eye for observation. However, V's performance was even better; she simply wore a puzzled expression.

“My son knows a girl from a wealthy family in Charter Hill. She has a similar temperament to you. I’m sorry.”

V secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Lin Yue's interest grew even stronger. "Mrs. Wells, it seems you're the real person in charge at Heywood?"

Mrs. Wells simply waved her hand, "It's all thanks to the neighbors' respect."

"What the company can't see is on this floor, but it's a wise move for them to send you here; no company soldier is willing to listen to them."

Lin Yue was not at all surprised that the old lady in front of him could see this.

"It's only right to do things for money."

Upon hearing Lin Yue's words, Mrs. Wells' expression remained unchanged, only her tone turned slightly colder, "That's true. This matter wasn't going to be easy to resolve today, but thanks to your prosthetics and guns..."

"We will pay you whatever the fee is, but please leave."

Lin Yue showed no intention of moving. Even though Jack reminded his mother that her words were a bit too harsh, he still said, "First of all, it's impossible for the company to provide these things without any profit in mind. Thank you for clearing up the situation for the company. But I must remind you, Madam, don't treat the company like a sucker."

“Jack is my friend, but Haywood is not.”

Do you understand?

Mrs. Wells' eye twitched.

She had absolutely no recollection of the mercenary in front of her. Night City had seen a surge of talented individuals emerge on its streets in recent years, so Mrs. Wells had no choice but to put aside her curiosity for the time being. It seemed that she couldn't use her aura to suppress the people in the company.

V stood up and pulled Jack aside.

"Let him come."

Jack glanced over there with some unease, then sighed heavily.

"So you're here on behalf of the company? Let me explain. If we do this, Heywood's gang and some families who are hostile to the company will definitely retaliate. The company in Pacific Island will never have a peaceful day, and you'll be in constant trouble."

That's why I said please go back.

"Besides, there are some things you can't control. I'd rather that guy named Suzuki just stay as he is."

Lin Yue shook his head.

"So the Haywoods still intend to let the gang do these dirty work, and your kids still intend to pick up weapons and rip off other people's families, is that right?"

Mrs. Wells simply asked in a soft voice, "Who are you?"

Lin Yue did not answer.

"The company wants to get to the port without having to deal with locals, and with less trouble. The condition is that the Haywood people will be more at ease if they listen to you."

Mrs. Wells nodded.

“I can do it, but the company can’t solve it.”

She still said the same thing.

But the young man dressed as a mercenary in front of him said something surprising.

"Who I am is not important; what matters is that I can solve Haywood's problem."

"Interested?"

……

……

(End of this chapter)